International Contingent Included In Ulster Squad
Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has named a 24-man squad ahead of Ulster’s first Magners League home match of the season against Edinburgh at Ravenhill on Friday (kick-off 8pm).
With Lions flanker Stephen Ferris and his fellow Ireland internationals, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble and Tom Court, named in the Ulster squad, rugby’s return to Ravenhill should make for a fast-paced and action-packed Celtic clash.
The matchday 22 will be announced on Thursday afternoon.
Speaking after the province’s surprise 20-16 win at the Ospreys last weekend, Ulster Rugby’s Director of Operations David Humphreys was keeping everyone’s feet on the ground.
“Let’s not get carried away. It’s one result. Just because we have beaten Ospreys at their own ground doesn’t make us a great team, just as the fact that we lost to Newport didn’t make us a bad team.
“But we’re all professionals and the players know they are judged on performances and results.
“They knew they hadn’t done themselves justice in the first match and you saw the reaction to that.
“It can’t just be a one-off, though. That has to be our level of performance on a consistent basis. Consistency is what it is all about.”
Humphreys was delighted that the work done in midweek stood to Ulster as they held on for their first win on Welsh soil in over three years.
“We knew we were better than we’d shown in Newport,” added the former Ireland out-half.
“The intensity, the energy, the enthusiasm – all of those words – those things were missing last week. So all week long we talked about getting a positive reaction.
“If you’re being honest you would have to say that in sitting down before the start of the season to target matches you think you can win, Ospreys away isn’t one that would spring to mind straight away.
“They are arguably the strongest panel of players in the Magners League.
“So the final 10 minutes were pretty nervy. When you see Tommy (Bowe) coming off the bench, you can just imagine him scoring the try to beat you.
“But they have good players all over the pitch, any one of whom can do you damage.”
ULSTER Squad: Backs (10) – Timoci Nagusa, Darren Cave, Simon Danielli, Ian Whitten, Isaac Boss, Ian Humphreys, Andrew Trimble, Paddy Wallace, Cillian Willis, Clinton Schifcofske.
Forwards (14) – Nigel Brady, Thomas Anderson, BJ Botha, Bryan Young, Ed O’Donoghue, Andy Kyriacou, Stephen Ferris, Neil McComb, Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Willie Faloon, Timaiti Horua, Tom Court, Declan Fitzpatrick.